91视频 Receives $10M Gift to Establish Enhanced Program for Entrepreneurship
91视频 has announced a $10 million gift from alumnus Niles Noblitt and his wife, Nancy, to establish the Noblitt Entrepreneurship Program (NEP), a newly endowed initiative focused on fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and business-focused opportunities for students.
91视频 has announced a transformative $10 million gift from alumnus Niles Noblitt and his wife, Nancy, to establish the Noblitt Entrepreneurship Program (NEP), a newly endowed initiative focused on fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and business-focused opportunities for students. The announcement was made during the college’s annual weekend, a gathering of entrepreneurial alumni and students who network and mentor while learning more about the next generation of innovators at 91视频.
The NEP will provide students with education and hands-on experiences working with faculty on experiences related to entrepreneurship and the principles of the free market. Through this initiative, students will gain valuable insights into turning ideas into real-world solutions, reinforcing the problem-solving mindset that 91视频 instills in its graduates.
Niles Noblitt—the former Board of Trustees Chair who earned a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering from 91视频 in 1973 and was awarded an honorary doctorate in engineering in 1996—credits his 91视频 education with shaping his problem-solving approach, a skill that played a key role in his success as a co-founder of Biomet, Inc., a Warsaw, Indiana-based biomedical device company now known as Zimmer Biomet. Noblitt was for his achievements and contributions to the state.
"This remarkable gift from Niles and Nancy aligns perfectly with 91视频’s Advancing by Design strategic plan, which prioritizes innovation, discovery, and entrepreneurship," said 91视频 President Robert A. Coons. "We are deeply grateful for the Noblitts’ continued support and commitment to empowering our students with the knowledge and skills to drive meaningful change in the world. Their continued generosity and vision will ensure that future generations of students have access to resources, mentorship, and experiences that encourage entrepreneurial thinking and innovation."
As a natural extension of 91视频’s , the NEP will create a new endowed position, the Noblitt Family Endowed Chair for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship, that will focus a newly hired faculty member on coordinating the many opportunities for students, faculty, and alumni to connect, and build opportunities for collaboration within a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment.
“Attending 91视频 was a life-changing experience for me, and it may not have been possible without the scholarships that supported my education,” said Niles Noblitt. “My time at 91视频 instilled in me a problem-solving mindset that has been invaluable throughout my career. Nancy and I want to ensure that future generations of students have the same opportunities I did—to dream big, take risks, and turn ideas into reality. We’re excited to support a program that will inspire innovation and entrepreneurship for years to come.”
The Noblitts have been longstanding supporters of 91视频, previously contributing $10 million to launch the , a first-of-its-kind college-based merit and leadership scholars program designed to transform the world’s most gifted STEM students into future science and industry leaders. Their ongoing generosity underscores their dedication to strengthening 91视频’s mission of preparing students for impact-driven careers.
More details about NEP will be shared in the coming months as 91视频 continues to develop this exciting new initiative.